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With: Thelonious Monk, Charlie Rouse, Larry Gales, Ben Riley, Phil Woods, Johnny Griffin, Ray Copeland, Jimmy Cleveland, Tommy Flanagan, Barry Harris, Samuel E. Wright (narrator)
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Written by: n/a
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Directed by: Charlotte Zwerin
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MPAA Rating: PG-13
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Running Time: 89
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Date: 10/24/1988
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Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser (1988)
Brilliant Corners
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
The same year he directed Bird (1988), about jazz legend Charlie Parker, Clint Eastwood helped produce the excellent documentary Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser. Directed by Charlotte Zwerin (Gimme Shelter), the film collects tons of recently-found vintage footage, shot in 1967, of Monk in action; playing, talking, and spending time with friends. Zwerin connected the old footage with new interviews with Monk's friends and collaborators, weaving it into a visual tapestry with a jazzlike rhythm of its own. The portrait that emerges is one of genius, sadness, and a certain withdrawn forlorn-ness, as shown in a single, haunting shot of Monk spinning around in circles in a crowded airport.
The Criterion Collection released this potent documentary on Blu-ray in 2025, highlighting a new 4K restoration, and an uncompressed monaural soundtrack, which renders this amazing music clear and bold. Bonuses include an introduction by director Zwerin, a new interview with Monk's son T. S. Monk, a making-of featurette, a trailer, and optional English subtitles. Musician and scholar Paul Grimstad provides the liner notes essay. Highly Recommended.
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